DepEd taps telco partners for free access to DepEd Commons

Learners and teachers can now access the online learning platform DepEd Commons without incurring data charges on their Globe or TM-powered smartphones as the Department of Education ties up with the local telecommunication company in ensuring educational continuity amidst the COVID-19 situation.

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones spearheaded the call for support from the telcos in providing free access to DepEd Commons (https://commons.deped.gov.ph), the Department’s online education delivery platform designed as alternative mode for teaching-learning process during class suspensions and other similar circumstances.

“In this time of crisis, it is important that we make it possible to overcome this challenge with solid partnershlps wlth the prlvate sector. We are thankful on our partners’ generosity in support of the continuity of public education by providing us free data for DepEd Commons access amid the COVID-19 situation,” Secretary Briones said.

The Education chief also secured the support of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in the initiative backing delivery of public education services through connectivity.

DepEd Commons contains online review materials and Open Educational Resources (OER) authored by public school teachers who are subject matter experts. Teachers can retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute the content by blending it with a learning management system to deliver a distance learning modality.

Based on the latest data, DepEd Commons has 4,236,667 users accessing online learning materials at the height of the ECQ. The number of users is projected to continue to rise in the coming days.

“We are facing many challenges in ensuring the continuity of education especially in this extremely difficult situation that we are in. In partnership with Globe, DepEd is steadily moving forward in bringing educational resources to the teachers and the learners wherever they may be,” DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua said.

The platform also integrates the Globe eLibrary, an online platform which features age-appropriate and engaging e-books ranging from storybooks for children and young adults to textbooks on core subjects such as Math, Science, English, Filipino, Music, Arts, among others.

“Even in this time of crisis where most of us, including the teachers and students have to stay at home, it is important that learning continue. We are happy to provide this service to DepEd in cooperation with the DICT and NTC,” Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto said.

However, Globe is reminding the public that while access to the site using the Globe/TM network will not entail any data charges, it does not cover the links outside the DepEd Commons domain. Thus, all links clicked and visited will still incur standard data charges.